In this episode of The Hole Conversation, Marc is joined by Bryony Cole—founder of Sex Tech School and host of the Future of Sex podcast—to unpack how technology is reshaping pleasure, relationships, and the business of sexual wellness.

From “banana sex ed” to industry builder

Bryony’s path started with the same bare-minimum sex education many of us remember—“condom on a banana and off you go.” After a tech career in New York and a spark from hearing Esther Perel, she fused her interests and launched Future of Sex. When founders flooded her inbox asking how to work in this taboo industry, Sex Tech School was born: a six-week program covering industry intel, branding for restricted platforms, resilient business models, and grassroots community building.  Happie Holl, we design simple, stigma-free hole-istic care essentials so people can focus on real bodies and real needs—not platform rules.

The reality of building in sexual wellness

Adult ≠ porn—but big tech and payment processors often treat it that way. Founders face ad bans, account shutdowns, and banking hurdles, forcing many to design around platform rules instead of human needs. Bryony’s take: to survive, you must hold two identities—activist and operator—and you can’t neglect either.

Trends to watch: menopause & disability

Inside Sex Tech School, two underserved areas are exploding with innovation:

• Perimenopause/menopause: genuine need—alongside “meno-washing” (slapping a menopause sticker on anything). Look for science-backed solutions, not opportunistic branding.

• Disability & sexuality: from mobility-friendly products to adaptive devices, this market is finally getting attention. If we’re lucky enough to age, accessibility will matter to all of us.

AI intimacy is here

Since the mass-adoption wave, AI companions have moved from fringe to everyday. For some, they’re safe spaces to explore desire and identity; for others, they risk displacing human connection. The answer isn’t panic—it’s education and ethics: data safety, informed consent, age-appropriate guardrails, and diverse teams building the platforms.

Bottom line: Sex tech is messy, regulated, and thrilling. With credible education, community, and ethical design, we can build tools that serve real bodies—and keep the lights on while doing it.

Listen to the podcast episode here